“Every soul shall taste death… but a great journalist’s story is never truly over as long as his colleagues remember the truth he told.”—- Anon
The world of Northern Nigerian journalism has lost one of its most spirited and fearless voices. Balarabe Nazeephy (April 16, 1960 – February 2026) was more than a reporter; he was a bridge between eras, a guardian of professional integrity, and a man whose life was anchored in both the grit of “Fleet Street” and the sacred verses of the Holy Quran.
Our journey began nearly 29 years ago. I was a young, green reporter at the Triumph Publishing Company, and Nazeephy was already a veteran fixture of the industry, serving as the Kano Correspondent for The Vanguard. Two years later, as I transitioned to The News/TEMPO and PM News, our bond tightened on the bustling pavement of Kano’s Galadima Road.
In those days, Galadima was our Fleet Street—a high-octane hub of news, deadline pressure, and camaraderie. Our offices were a mere stone’s throw apart. Nazeephy was a man of infectious energy, professional to the core, and possessed that rare, raw fearlessness that defines the best of our craft.
Beneath the dogged pursuit of a lead was a man of deep familial loyalty. I remember vividly how he would insist I look after his niece, Mrs. Maryam Hali, whenever she visited the office. He went as far as jokingly dragging me to his family home at Kwanar Jaba, emphatically declaring that I should become his in-law. He sought to cement a friendship into a brotherhood—a bond that remained a respectful, lifelong friendship with Maryam.
Indeed, it was through Maryam’s post that I finally confirmed the heavy news of his passing, after his successor at The Vanguard, Nathaniel Ikyur, sought clarification on the Kano Correspondents Reunion platform.
Nazeephy’s career was a testament to his versatility and dedication to the public record. He navigated the shifting tides of Nigerian media and governance through several key institutions:
• Radio Kano: Where he honed his early broadcast instincts.
• Concord Press: Serving during the golden era of MKO Abiola’s media empire.
• Vanguard News: Where he became a household name in the North West.
• Daily Times: Contributing to the “Old Lady of Kakawa Street.”
• The Senate, National Assembly: Where he transitioned into policy communications as a Special Assistant.
Despite these professional heights, he remained a man of the Word, having memorized the Holy Quran—a spiritual grounding that balanced his earthly pursuits. His education at the Exam Success Correspondence College, Lagos, laid the foundation for a man who never stopped seeking knowledge.
The circumstances of his departure are deeply poignant. I saw him last at an eatery in Wuse while he was still at the National Assembly, full of his usual vigor. However, many of us noticed his unusual silence on social media since last year. As Jacob Ajakaye noted, his absence is a “great loss to journalism practice in northern Nigeria.”
He was found dead in his Abuja home by his five young children, who noticed their father was no longer moving and alerted cousins nearby. While an aunt in Abuja ensured he received his final rites, a heavy question remains: Who will look after the five young children he left behind?
Balarabe Nazeephy was a man of the heartland, a vanguard of the truth, and a soul whose dagger was always sharpened for justice but sheathed in kindness for his friends.
May Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanna Firdaus. May He grant his family, friends, and the journalism community the courage to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu, Nazeephy. The newsroom is quieter without you.
Bello wrote in from Abuja.
